Picture frames



Jan. 21, 1958 F.l w. JOHN PICTURE FRAMES Filed March As1, 1955 I E11/anto?" (E -ederz'ck Z5. @fo/L77;

United States Patent PICTURE FRAMES Frederick W. John, Lombard, Ill., assignor to Turner Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 31, 1955, Serial No. 498,287

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-152) This invention relates to a picture frame of novel and improved construction.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a picture frame assembly of the type wherein a picture may be inserted or replaced in a quick, convenient and secure manner without the necessity for the user to employ racking, adhesives, or the like assembly means.

The picture frame of the present invention comprises an assembly provided with a downwardly opening pocket constructed and arranged to receive therethrough a panel of glass and the picture to be framed, the frame being further characterized by means for retaining the so-inserted glass panel in secure lodgment.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a picture frame assembly in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof, with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, the picture frame comprises the side molding members lll-10, the top molding member 11, and the bottom molding member 12, mitered and secured together in the usual manner, or molded as an integral unit from a mastic composition. The molding components are each rearwardly rabbeted in conventional manner as at 13 to provide the conventional shoulder or glass panel seating flange 14, leaving rearwardly projecting rail portions 15-15 on the side moldings and a rearwardly projecting rail portion 16 on the top molding, all of equal height, said height being at least twice that of the thickness of glass panel 17. The rail portion 18 on the lower molding 12, however, is shorter than the other three rails and has a height substantially that of the thickness of glass panel 17.

A permanent backing 19 is then secured to the rails 15-15 and 16, by mechanical or adhesive means, said backing extending over but remaining spaced from lower rail 18. If desired, the backing 19 may include an easel 20 so that the assembly may be rested .on a table or the like. The lower marginal edge of backing 19 may be further provided with the notch 21 for access to the components within the pocket or rear closure formed by backing 19.

In use, one merely inserts tirst the glass panel 17 through the opening between. rail 1 8 and backing 19, and

seats the glass between on the flange 14 between the dening rails. A picture 22, either alone when of suicient thickness, or together with a ller 23, is then inserted through the opening to provide frictional engagement by filling the pocket. It will be noted, however, that the glass panel 17 rests on the rail 18 so that tendency of the glass panel to become downwardly displaced by reason of its weight is eliminated, my construction thereby permitting desirable employment of rigid glass panels in picture frames of the class illustrated, without necessity for use of fastening means or devices for securing either the glass panel or backing by the user.

It will be understood that although I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my device, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modiiications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A picture frame composed of top, bottom and side moldings defining a rectangular sight opening, top, bottom and a pair of side rails in spaced relation to the defining edges of said sight opening projecting rearwardly of said moldings and normal to the plane of the sight opening forming a rectangular seat for a glass panel, said top and side rails being of substantially equal height and substantially twice that of the thickness of the glass panel to be received, said bottom rail being of a height substantially that of the thickness of said glass panel, and a backing member secured to said top and side rails and projecting over said bottom rail in spaced relationship thereto forming a downwardly opening pocket, said glass panel being receivable for seating in said frame through said pocket downward opening.

2. An assembly comprising a picture frame composed of top, bottom and side moldings defining a rectangular sight opening, top, bottom and a pair of side rails in spaced relation to the defining edges of said sight opening projecting rearwardly of said moldings and normal to the plane of the sight opening forming a rectangular seat for a glass panel, said top and side rails being of substantially equal height and substantially twice that of the thickness of the glass panel to be received, said bottom rail being of a height substantially that of the thickness of said glass panel, and a backing member secured to said top and side rails and projecting over said bottom rail in spaced relationship thereto forming a downwardly opening pocket, said glass panel being receivable for seating in said frame through said pocket downward opening, a glass panel seated in said frame within the contines of said rails, a picture disposed thereover in said pocket between said backing, and filler means disposed between said backing and said picture retaining the latter in frictional engagement in said assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,164 Cochran July 19, 1892 1,068,621 Abraham July 29, 1913 1,270,475 Wilkenson I une 25, 1918 1,842,473 Glassner Ian. 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,045 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1937 

